This document outlines several conventions of comedy genre films. Comedies are typically set in suburban areas like schools and bars that are happy and sunny. They use natural lighting and a range of shots. Common visual styles include modern colors and props like beer and drugs. The narrative follows multiple protagonists dealing with disruption, attempting repair, and achieving a new equilibrium. Character types include idiot protagonists, villains, and people who seem good but betray the group. Themes include good vs bad, idiocy, drinking, and friendship.

1. Comedy Genre Conventions
By Jordan Farley

2. D.I.S.T.I.N.C.T
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Don’t
Ignore
Setting
Technical
Iconography
Narrative
Characterisation
Themes

3. Setting
• Comedy films can be set almost anywhere,
however the most typical setting for Comedy films
is suburban areas in places such as high schools and
bars. The areas that they are set in are usually
happy, sunny towns or neighbourhoods. These
areas could also be slightly more rural (or possibly
artificial) and have nice, large houses.

5. Technical Codes
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There tends to be a lot of establishing shots to show
changed locations, characters, new themes etc.
Scenes are usually well lit using natural lighting (sunlight) or
atmospheric lighting such as low key lighting and smoke to
give effect.
You get a lot of close ups, mid shots and long shots, these
work well with the use of establishing shots, this range of
shots is effective as they can be used with conversation, but
also to show the characters full bodies, where the audience
only really see the top of the characters bodies, sometimes
you see their whole bodies in montages etc.

7. Iconography
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Visual Style : Light/modern/normal colours, links with having
a normal life etc.
Lighting is mainly natural (sunlight), high key, highlighting the
main characters.
There are a few common props that are seen in many
comedy films used by the main characters such as beer
bottles, bongs and possibly guns. This shows that drinking,
drugs and violence are common themes in lots of comedy
films.

9. Narrative Structure
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The common narrative structure for comedy films is very
similar within a lot of comedy films and often ends on a
teaser for a sequel, for example, 21 Jump Street ends with
Captain Dickinson saying, ‘You two sons of bitches are
going to college’. This teases the audience with the
possibility of a second movie where the main characters
attend college.
There is always more than one protagonist as comedy films
often feature multiple main characters that go through the
story as almost one person.

11. Character Types
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The Main Protagonist, often 2-4 different characters, usually
all different in their own ways, one idiot, one that worries
about everything and a leader, go through the main story
together.
The Villain, often someone that has something that belongs
the protagonist or someone that the protagonist has been
told to find/kill.
The person in charge, such as Captain Dickinson in 21 Jump
Street, gives orders to the protagonist, often gets annoyed
with them.
The person that the protagonist meets during the story,
may seem good but commonly ends up being bad and
screwing over the protagonist. Similar to Chow in The
Hangover.

13. Themes
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Good against bad
Idiocy
Drugs
Drinking
Violence
Friendship
Conflict

14. Todorov’s Narrative Theory
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Equilibrium – The normal, day to day, happy normal life
Disruption - Something, often bad, happens that changes the
equilibrium
Recognition Of Disruption – The main character notices the
disruption
Attempt To Repair Disruption - The protagonist tries to fix
the disruption
Climax – Usually a part of the film where everything ‘kicks
off’, commonly in the form of a fight or battle
New Equilibrium – Things go back to normal, maybe with a
few slight differences, for the better

15. Propp’s Character Roles 1
• The Hero or Anti-hero - The central protagonist who
drives the story forward on some kind of quest in return for a
reward.
• The Villain - The Antagonist who seeks riches, power, glory
or maybe the Princess. Tries to stop the Hero in his quest. May
have started the disruption.
• The Princess - Acts as a reward for the Hero for succeeding.
May need to be rescued. May be quite a passive character.
• The Princess’ father - Gives the task to the hero, identifies the
false hero.

16. Propp’s Character Roles 2
• The Dispatcher - Makes the lack known and sends the hero
off
• The False hero - Takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries
to marry the princess
• The Donor or Mentor - Prepares the hero or gives the
hero some magical object. E.g. Mr Miyagi
• The Helper - Helps the hero in the quest. Could be a sidekick.